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Juventus vs Bologna preview: How to watch on TV, live stream, team news & prediction

By James Cormack

BOLOGNA, ITALY - DECEMBER 18: ;usa BArrow of Bologna FC ( R ) competes the ball with Matthijs De Ligt of Juventus ( L ) during the Serie A match between Bologna FC and Juventus at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on December 18, 2021 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Mario Carlini / Iguana Press/Getty Images)
BOLOGNA, ITALY - DECEMBER 18: ;usa BArrow of Bologna FC ( R ) competes the ball with Matthijs De Ligt of Juventus ( L ) during the Serie A match between Bologna FC and Juventus at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on December 18, 2021 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Mario Carlini / Iguana Press/Getty Images) /
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Juventus were victorious in the reverse fixture against Bologna. (Photo by Mario Carlini / Iguana Press/Getty Images)
Juventus were victorious in the reverse fixture against Bologna. (Photo by Mario Carlini / Iguana Press/Getty Images) /

Juventus take on a galvanised Bologna outfit in Serie A on Saturday evening as they look to reaffirm their grip on fourth spot. 

The Bianconeri were given a scare in Sardinia last Saturday as Joao Pedro gave Cagliari an early lead. However, goals from Matthijs de Ligt and Dusan Vlahovic ensured that Massimiliano Allegri’s side overturned the deficit and claimed all three points on the road; bouncing back from their Derby d’Italia defeat.

Victories for their fellow top-four contenders on Matchday 32 means Juve are still five points better off than fifth-placed AS Roma and seven ahead of Lazio.

On Matchday 33, the Bianconeri play host to a Bologna side that won convincingly at home to Sampdoria last Monday after they’d held league leaders AC Milan to a point the week prior. This group are playing for their manager, Sinisa Mihajlovic, who recently returned to hospital to undergo another round of treatment for leukaemia.

The 51-year-old has been battling the disease since 2019, and his Bologna players will be desperate to do the calcio icon proud by beating Juventus for the first time since 2011.

Juventus vs Bologna Serie A preview

Here’s our preview of Saturday’s Serie A clash.

How to Watch Juventus vs Bologna

When is kick-off? Saturday 16 April

What time is kick-off? 17:30 (BST)

Where is it played? Allianz Stadium

TV channel/live stream? BT Sport 3 (UK), Paramount+ (US)

Referee? Juan Luca Sacchi

Juventus Team News

Arthur Melo and Juan Cuadrado have both been added to the injury list in the week. The Colombian, though, has a shot of making Saturday’s matchday squad while the Brazilian is unlikely to be risked despite Max Allegri’s minimal midfield options.

Thus, the manager could opt to deploy Danilo in midfield once again, with youngster Fabio Miretti poised for minutes off the bench – if the game state allows it.

Alvaro Morata and Mattia De Sciglio are back in contention after both players served their one-game suspensions last weekend. Federico Bernardeschi could also get a gig following a lengthy absence from the starting XI.

Federico Chiesa, Kaio Jorge, Weston McKennie and Manuel Locatelli remain sidelined.

Bologna Team News

Bologna have a pretty clean bill of health heading into Saturday’s game. Nigerian midfielder Kinglsey Michael is the only likely absentee for the away side.

Tanjga could name an unchanged starting XI from Monday’s comfortable 2-0 victory over Sampdoria.

Juventus vs Bologna Predicted Lineups

Juventus: Szczesny; Danilo, Bonucci, De Ligt, Pellegrini; Bernardeschi, Zakaria, Rabiot, Morata; Dybala, Morata.

Bologna: Skorupski; Soumaoro, Medel, Theate; Dijks, Aebischer, Schouten, Svanberg, Hickey; Barrow, Arnautouvic.

Juventus’ Recent Form

Cagliari 1-2 Juventus (09/04) – Serie A

Juventus 0-1 Inter Milan (03/04) – Serie A

Juventus 2-0 Salernitana (20/03) – Serie A

Juventus 0-3 Villarreal (16/03) – Champions League

Sampdoria 1-3 Juventus (12/03) – Serie A

Bologna’s Recent Form

Bologna 2-0 Sampdoria (11/04) – Serie A

AC Milan 0-0 Bologna (04/04) – Serie A

Bologna 0-1 Atalanta (20/03) – Serie A 

Fiorentina 1-0 Bologna (13/03) – Serie A

Bologna 0-0 Torino (06/03) – Serie A

Prediction

Juventus came from behind to win last weekend. (Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images)
Juventus came from behind to win last weekend. (Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images) /

Bologna are a difficult team to assess. Their style is a little confused. They’re not a side that insists on playing out from the back, nor are they a direct outfit. Thus, the Rossoblù are somewhat mystical, but they certainly possess enough talent to hurt the Bianconeri on Saturday.

Wing-back Aaron Hickey, midfielder Mattias Svanberg and marksman Marko Arnautovic are all enjoying fine seasons for Saturday’s visitors, and they’re three players to keep an eye on.

The emotion surrounding Bologna’s visit can’t be overlooked and Juventus should be on upset alert this weekend. Max Allegri’s side almost sleepwalked their way to dropping points away at Cagliari last time out.

Nevertheless, I suspect we might see more vintage Allegri and vintage Bianconeri in this one. They won’t impress, but they’ll somehow find a way to score more than the opposition.

Prediction: Juventus 2-1 Bologna

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